3. Create a rough “sketch” of the composition, with greater detail for the more intricate subject matter.
Kids’ Christmas Snowman Countdown
Adults & 3+ years    
1 hour 1 to 5     label £8
What you’ll do
Count down to Christmas day with this festive snowman! Get your little ones crafting this Christmas with our fun, festive craft workshop. This is a great way to spark their creativity!
The tutorial is designed for kids aged three years and over, with an expert Hobbycraft colleague guiding them through the project. They’ll be able to create their own snowman – complete with googly eyes and colourful tissue paper – and then add the Christmas dates to complete the calendar.
All the materials needed to make this project will be provided in store. Once they’ve finished the project, the idea is that little ones can cut off or scribble out the date as each day passes in the lead up to Christmas.
Workshop suitable for ages 3+ years. All kids’ craft workshops require adult supervision. One ticket is required per child.
Please note: Messy aprons are not supplied. We would recommend bringing your own or wearing clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Additionally, our workshop spaces in some stores are located in open areas and we will endeavour to minimise interruption from other crafters.
Knowledge required
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Perfect for kids!
What to bring
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Just yourself!
Location
Your teacher
5.0 (23)
Contact
Our expert Hobbycraft Artisans deliver our online workshops, each Artisan has their craft expertise and will be perfectly placed to help you start a completely new craft or advance your skills.
We only show reviews from customers who have paid for and attended this class
Kelly Schoolcraft-Wills • Nov 2023
Great to have a one-on-one session for my son. The teacher was very adaptable and engaging.
Ivy • Nov 2023
Maria was great as always and kept my daughter engaged, and we had great fun. But I didn’t think the project itself was that great value – it’s just a cardboard cutout and stickers/poppoms really, and glad I bought with a discount. We do love these workshops though, but looking forward to more interesting crafts to do.
Natasha Doherty • Nov 2023
My girls enjoyed this we workshop, Perfect Christmas countdown craft.
Teacher was lovely. Thank you
Amy-Louise Budd • Nov 2023
Raymond was excellent ! So patient with our lively boys and they were able to do really good crafting under his instructions
The session was worth every penny with lots of craft supplies provided and a really lovely setting.
Gemma Walsh • Nov 2023
We had Anna today at the swindon branch. The workshop was amazing, my boys loved making their snowman. We can’t wait for the next one we have booked.
Julie Cobbett • Nov 2023
Charlie was excellent she interacted with the children explained to the group what was happening, good materials easy instructions for the group to understand what they were making, venue easy to get to. Value for money for my granddaughter to enjoy. Will definitely be booking another workshop for her again.
Sara • Nov 2023
The instructor was very patient with my three year old daughter, and held her attention so well! Good mix of craft skills used too + cutting, sticking, colouring etc.
Laura • Nov 2023
Great class! The teacher was lovely, chatty & patient & my 7 year old had a great time. We can’t wait to come to more classes!
Helen Hanlon • Nov 2023
Really good for kids. Just the right length for a 6/7 year old and good timing for those who get inti the Xmas spirit early.
Julie Hann • Nov 2023
Great activity session this morning with Anthony making the snowman advent countdown at the Biggleswade store. Good value for money.
Katie Turnbull • Nov 2023
Kids had a great time making their advent snowman! Lots of fun and time to complete it. Bath was so lovely and helpful. A lovely little afternoon would definitely recommend to get you in the christmas mood ! Thank you x
Victoria Harper • Nov 2023
Lovely Christmas countdown workshop with the friendly Aaliyah. Very fun activity with lots of resources.
Chris Parsons • Nov 2023
Evie thought it was great and made friends with Bryony, who was very friendly.
Good value, and enjoyable.
Michelle Turner • Nov 2023
My daughter always enjoys the workshops and had a great time making the snowman. Deb who ran the workshop was great.
Arthur Kirkham • Nov 2023
Great workshop. Very helpful staff – worked really lovely with my 4 year old son and he was really pleased with his snowman.
Jasmine Heathcote • Nov 2023
Every class my son or I have done at Hobbycraft has been superb. It is done the the teacher Nicky who is just so kind and patient. It’s always organised and calm giving parents some stress free time to spend with their child. Perfect sized room so helpful having toilets next door also. I really enjoy these classes. Thank you so much Nicky.
Elspeth • Oct 2023
Our snowman craft session in Stafford Hobbycraft was brilliant! Our instructor Melissa was so kind and helpful, but at the same time she let my 7yr old daughter have free rein over all the lovely craft materials provided, and encouraged her to develop her own ideas. It was a really lovely way to spend an hour – I highly recommend one of these sessions.
Uma Shanmugam • Oct 2023
Kids enjoyed well. Kids learnt craft skills. Rachel is very kind and very patience to manage Kids. She did a fantastic job today. Snowman sticks glittering in Kids room wall. Thanks hobbycraft
Anuksha Pradeep • Oct 2023
It was a great experience. The instructor was good at explaining the craft activity in a clear way.
Lucy Rosal • Oct 2023
Was fun easy followed get to know things I haven’t done it before lovely lady help me and show me how to use the other materials very please
Carly Rowe • Oct 2023
My 5 year old daughter had a fantastic time making her snowman countdown at the craft session. Dawn was lovely and friendly. Although we were the only one there it was so nice to know that it didn’t get cancelled due to lack of numbers. We can’t wait for the next craft sessions – we will certainly be back! Thank you
Linda Coulter • Oct 2023
Thank you so much to Ellie for a fantastic hour of fun for my granddaughter who made a snowman countdown calendar. There were lots of different materials involved and able to be used letting her use her own imagination to create her masterpiece! This is good value for money and Ellie interacted really well with both children present so thank you again and see you soon
Linda Warner • Oct 2023
Ellie was lovely as always. Lots of resources to use. She gave heaps of encouragement and assistance and there was lots of scope for individuality. My granddaughter loved it.
History
The practice of oil painting dates all the way back to the 14 th century when olive oil was first used as a binding agent with pigments in Italy, and parrilla oil was used in Japan.
It wasn’t until 1440 that Flemish artist Jan van Eyck discovered the use of Linseed Oil in painting, which was soon adopted by other European artists (such as Leonardo da Vinci). Many major iconic artworks have been created with oil, including the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali, American Gothic by Grant Wood, Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet, Whistlers Mother by James McNeil Whistler, The Kiss by Gustav Klimt, and Guernica by Pablo Picasso, to name a few.
Nowadays, oil paints are comprised of a pigment suspended in oil, typically linseed oil.
They are still an incredibly popular medium, and for good reason.
Oil paints are fantastic for blending and creating smooth transitions between shades, with a beautiful and rich quality distinguishable from most other painting mediums.
Beginner Oil Painting Kit
There are a few things you’ll need to get started with oil painting:
- Oil paints : Start with a basic colour palette if you are just starting out, with black, white, and the primary colours of red, blue and yellow.
- A range of small and large brushes(most oil painters reach for hog bristle)
- An easel . (Easels are typically a far more comfortable way to paint than by painting on a flat surface)
Mediums
Oil paints can be more fluid by adding oil or a solvent, however, it’s important to note that this does weaken the paint.
There are a variety of Oil mediums available.
By adding larger amounts of medium to your paint, you will make it more “flat” and transparent, while smaller amounts will impart a more “solid” finish.
- Turpentine
Turpentine is used in the preparation of painting mediums and for cleaning equipment. Pure Gum Turpentine is a natural, double-distilled solvent for oil painting. It can be used to help prepare your art supplies for use or it can be used as a medium. It is a natural material derived from the distillation of sap extracted from the Pinus Massoniana tree. This turpentine is ideal for use when preparing to paint, cleaning art supplies and removing other mediums.
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Odourless solvent
Odourless Solvent is a healthier alternative to gum or mineral turpentine. This is ideal for artists who are sensitive to the odour of turpentine. It is used for cleaning brushes and thinning/ diluting paint as an additive to mediums.
Brushes
The Mont Marte Stainless Steel Brush Washer is an invaluable accessory for artists and provides a quick and convenient way to clean and dry your brushes. The stainless steel spiral handle suspends brushes in turpentine or water, protecting brush bristles to give them a longer life. This spiral also allows brushes to be suspended in the air to dry when the washer is empty. The mesh screen in the bottom of the washer provides a semi-abrasive surface to clean brushes and also allows sediment to settle in the base so water or turpentine can be reused for cleaning.
A bucket like the Unipro Clear Plastic Bucket and Lid 1.2 litre can be incredibly useful as a brush washer when working with oil paint, and is the perfect size for keeping a handful of brushes in whilst working on a painting. Rinse the brush in turps in the container and then wipe dry with a rag so as to avoid cross-contamination and muddy mixing.
Once you have finished for the day, remove the brushes and wash them thoroughly with Chroma Incredible Brush cleaner , and then put the lid back on the turps-filled bucket to control the turps fumes.
